HARARE - Elevator maintenance company Clovgate is setting up office in Johannesburg, South Africa (SA), as part of a regional expansion plan.
Its founder and managing director, Colin Jeche, said the company would be offering a diverse range of elevator equipment, spares and accessories in the South African market.
He said the move was on the back of increasing business in that country, adding that the group also planned to set up base in Mozambique where they have several contracts.
In SA, Jeche said, Clovgate would also be representing global elevator equipment and accessories brands which include Kinetek, Memco, TJ Jones, E-Motive, Fermator, GAL and Weco.
“Plans to open shop in SA are at an advanced stage. As a building owner, property manager or facility engineer one has the ability to turn the difficulty of elevator shut downs and problems into a situation of control and tenant satisfaction,” said Jeche.
“Clovgate, as the provider of cost effective elevator and escalator engineering services to Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique, can help orchestrate that change.
“We manufacture, install, modernise, repairs and maintain elevators and escalators, and respond to elevator distress calls within ‘reasonable time’,” he said.
To improve its organisational effectiveness, Jeche said Clovgate has embarked on a restructuring exercise which has seen an elevator industry veteran with 45 years of experience gained in Australia, USA and Asia, Barry Crooks, being appointed general manager (technical and operations), with a team of certified elevator technicians and mechanics as his direct reports.
“At Clovgate we appreciate that the vertical transportation needs of large organisations come in all shapes and sizes. What they need is a single source to handle them.
“One that listens, gets to know how they do their business and then tailors solutions to suit their demands,” he said.
Jeche added that the company’s iService package for existing equipment includes, 24/7 callback/ distress call service repair and resuscitate plan, full preventive maintenance plan, safety and compliance check upgrade/ modernisation plan, aesthetic enhancements.
“Over the past eight years, we have helped over 100 building owners and managers to keep their elevator systems running.
“Over the next two, we are planning to help 5 000 more. We are helping by providing new equipment, upgrading and repairing existing equipment, resuscitating abandoned equipment and offering protective maintenance services, safety engineering and accident prevention consulting,” he said.
Some of the buildings under Clovgate’s management include Meikles Hotel, Corner House, Hardwicke House, Bank Chambers, and CABS Centre among others.